Welsh union urges government action to mitigate AI inequality
'We can ensure that everyone thrives with no worker left behind'
The Wales Trade Unions Congress (TUC) has released a report highlighting the detrimental effects of unchecked AI integration in Welsh workplaces.
The union, one of the largest in Wales, says Welsh workers face large hurdles in understanding and challenging the deployment of AI, as they lack access to essential information and are excluded from decision-making processes.
This leaves them marginalised and unable to negotiate their rights effectively in the face of AI implementation.
One glaring issue the review identified is the disparity in understanding between employers and workers about the functions and impacts of AI tools.
While employers might lack complete insight into these technologies themselves, workers face a more significant information gap.
This approach, says the TUC, exacerbates worker disempowerment and perpetuates "a cycle of opacity and exclusion" in the workplace.
The review also underscores the lack of transparency in the introduction of AI, as well as the absence of any legal requirement to tell employees when an employer implements the technology.
AI-powered surveillance and automated decision-making are also highlighted as elements that may further compound workers' distress.
Electronic monitoring, initially heralded for its efficiency, has instead fostered a culture of distrust, where workers are compelled to justify their actions in the face of algorithmic judgments without context.
Wales TUC says that while sectors like manufacturing have a history of collective organisation around technology issues, workers across other industries struggle to do so.
The union is now calling on the Welsh government to take decisive action. It is especially urging the government to lead by example in the public sector, advocating for worker inclusion and promoting best practices for tech deployment.
Additionally, the Wales TUC is asking for legislative reforms to safeguard worker rights in the age of AI, stressing the need for transparency and accountability in AI-related decision-making processes.
The report also highlights the crucial role of trade unions in supporting workers through this transition.
The Wales TUC says it plans to take the following steps:
- Generating additional specialised resources and providing training for trade union representatives
- Maintaining vigilance over the evolution and implications of AI in work settings, with a commitment to conducting additional investigations
- Upholding its commitment to championing policies that safeguard and enhance workers' rights and workplace empowerment
- Assisting affiliated unions in exchanging insights and adopting best practices regarding the comprehension, use, and negotiation of AI
"Trade unionists in Wales are quickly adapting and learning in response to increased use of AI. However, we need to do more together," said Shavanah Taj, Wales TUC General Secretary.
"Workers, unions, employers, technologists and the Welsh Government must work hand in hand to realise the opportunities and manage the risks of AI together. With a social partnership approach, we can ensure that everyone thrives in this new environment with no worker being left behind."